19th World Paragliding Championships Castelo Weather Forecast 10th Sep

Summary "Short day, and weaker"

Winds switch to SE. Above 2000m they are still from the North but light.

Barometer increases +3mb during the day. This will create stability and strong inversions at 1400-1500m.

Temperatures drop meaning increase of air density, less sun to the ground and longer cycle thermals. Temperature variation of the day is only 7 C, meaning less triggering to the ground, weaker thermals below 500m and longer thermal cycles close to the ground. This will be worse after 14.00 due to shadow from the South clouds.

Humidity will increase and Dewpoint increases by 3 C, meaning weaker thermals and overdevelopment expected after 13.00 to the east with Showers expected to the Castellinhio area at 15.00.

The day will start early but conditions will also decline relatively fast, offering an opportunity for a short 50-55 Km task with low speeds (25kph calculated).

Convergences are expected from the take off to the west to Burarama area and from Geronimo to the south.

Overdevelopment with cloud coverage initially 10% in the take off area, but after 13.00, the coverage may increase up to 60% at 15.00h.

Good luck

Evangelos

More details

Barometer: 1018mb increasing during the day

Temperature range :20-27 C not so good, expecting smooth and weak thermals

Dew point: 16,5 C increasing

Low humidity: 30%

High Humidity: 60% increasing in the valley by 10% at all altitudes

Cloud base: initially 1300, later 1500, to the west increase up to 1900m at 14.30h

Cloud tops :+400m 

Cloud types :Cu, Showers to the east 

Coverage :Initially 10%, and after 13.00h increase rapidly in the valley with overdevelopment and shadow after 14.00h with a coverage potentially exceeding 60%.

Sun energy flow: 100W/m2 which is low, meaning weak lower thermals, and longer warming cycles

Inversions :900,1400m and also a shear level at 2000m where wind switches from SE to NW.

Average thermal :1,5-2,0 m/s weaker than yesterday.

Thermals/Altitude: 400m/1,5m/s...500m/2,5m/s...1000m/3m/s...

Ideal Thermal Zone for XCSpeed : 1000-1500m 

Gusts :15kph

0m: SE 12kph

600m: SE 12kph 

1200m: SE 12kph

1800m:  0 

2400m:  NW 15 kph

3000m:  WNW 20 kph

3600m:  Sw 20 kph

Conditions Start to develop: 10.30h thermals up to1200m  later than the previous day

Conditions decline after:  14.00h thermals up to 1500m+

Peak period:  11.30h-14.00h

Peak time:  13.00h

Duration of task: 2h 

Calculated XC Speed: 25 kph  

Potential task:   55-60 km

Convergence lines: Expected from the take off to the west to Burarama area and from Geronimo to the south. 

Rain: 0%, expected showers to the east at 15.00h